[August]

Originally Posted by vienna

This is to be a "town Hall" type debate. The questions will be asked by members of the audience. The audience has been selected, more or less randomly, by the Gallup Poll organization. I say more or less, because you never know who really is responding to the Gallup questions. The Gallup people called registered voters in the general area surrounding the debate site and asked a series of questions used to determine if the respondent is actually an undecided/uncommitted voter. If the respondent "passed the test", they were invited to attend the debate and, if chosen by the moderator, to ask their question of the candidate(s). This means the audience is comprised of people who in, in theory, have no political axe to grind and are just seeking a reason why they should vote for one candidate over the other. This can be very troubling for the candidates; recall what happened to GHW Bush in the "Town Hall" in 1992 when he found himself unable to cope with the questions and seemed to be in rather a hurry to get out of the hall...

I've decided to start a drinking game: I will take a drink whenever either candidate brings up a letter they recieved from, a contact they had with an "ordinary American", or cites the words of a soldier, fireman, policeman or one of their family members, etc. I rather expect to be well on my way to inebiation before the debate is over...

<o>

Sounds like a cool game. I have to work tomorrow or i'd join you.